Meat Loaf, a singer and actor who made massive contributions in the industry, suffered privately for years before his untimely death.
Meat Loaf's longtime agent Michael Greene delivered the heartbreaking news to Deadline, saying that the actor, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, died on Thursday.
"We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man. From his heart to your souls... don't ever stop rocking!" the family said.
While Greene did not disclose Meat Loaf's cause of death, a news outlet revealed that the singer fell ill due to COVID-19. Sources also confirmed that his condition quickly worsened, leading him to suffer more complications.
But long before he caught the dreaded virus, Meat Loaf faced health setbacks that tested him for years.
Meat Loaf Suffered: Singer's Career Almost Got Compromised By His Health
Meat Loaf first conquered the music scene through his 1977 debut album "Bat Out of Hell." While his voice became fan-favorite, his "strained" voice almost disrupted his success during the early days of his career.
In 1993, he sat down for an interview with People, where he confessed that he did not know how to deal with things that were happening around him. He added that it caused him to be away for five years.
Meat Loaf detailed how he struggled with mental health issues and turned to alcohol for a year while facing an emotional breakdown. He, fortunately, recovered after undergoing psychotherapy for four sessions a week for a year with the help of his then-wife, Leslie.
On top of that, he almost left himself crippled when he shattered his leg in the 1970s. In the 2000s, he collapsed three times while performing.
The legendary musician also confirmed to Rolling Stone that he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences said that the WPW syndrome causes a problem in a person's heartbeat. People with this disease suffer from fast heart rate and other arrhythmias.
"Many people are born with this condition and can live their whole lives without ever knowing it is there. Mine appeared to have been quiet until now. The prognosis is excellent as the procedure's success rate is over 95 percent," he went on. He underwent heart surgery to treat his condition.
The series of unfortunate health issues he faced did not stop there as he collapsed on stage while performing in Pittsburgh in 2011. CBS confirmed that the singer had asthma at that time.
Then in 2016, he collapsed again in Canada due to severe dehydration.
In the years leading to his death, Meat Loaf suffered more health issues, including a knee problem that led him to undergo knee surgery, falling off a stage, injuries to his neck, collarbone, and shoulder; and more.
Fortunately, he lived for more years despite all that and graced his fans with his performances.
